China's first large cargo drone capable of carrying a 1-ton payload, the TP1000, successfully completed its maiden flight on Saturday morning in Qingdao City, east China's Shandong province.
This innovative aircraft is notable for being the country's first large unmanned transport aircraft equipped with airdrop capabilities.
Developed fully in accordance with China's civil aviation standards for large cargo drones, the TP1000 has a takeoff weight of 3.3 tons and a maximum payload capacity of 1,000 kilograms. Compared to its predecessor, the TP500, the new model boasts increased cargo capacity and extended range, with a maximum range of 1,000 kilometers when fully loaded.
Together, these drones will form a complementary product lineup designed to meet the rapidly growing demand for low-altitude cargo transport.
Crucially, the TP1000 is also equipped with smart airdrop functionality, enhancing its capabilities in emergency response and disaster relief operations.
"The maiden flight lasted 26 minutes, and the aircraft's performance was stable throughout. All performance metrics met our expectations. During the flight, the drone exhibited excellent stability, maneuverability, and power system performance, with all parameters remaining within ideal ranges," said Jin Ge, the leader of the TP1000 research and development team.
The TP1000 is expected to enter operational service by 2026, representing a significant advancement in China's unmanned aerial vehicle technology and its applications in logistics and emergency response.
China's first 1-ton payload cargo drone completes maiden flight
China's western regions are accelerating the construction of new energy bases in barren, rocky areas and deserts to support the transition to low-carbon energy and boost green development.
The rapid development of large-scale wind and photovoltaic power facilities in these challenging environments is a critical strategic move for China as it seeks to promote a clean and low-carbon transformation of its energy sector.
Sandy areas, rocky areas, and deserts have fragile ecosystems, but they are rich in wind and solar energy resources, providing a natural advantage for the development of clean energy. The construction of new-energy bases can also fully leverage the land, solar, and wind resource advantages of the western region and transform them into economic benefits.
On the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, construction is in full swing for a 10-million-kilowatt hybrid power base that integrates wind, solar, coal, and storage facilities.
The power base is expected to provide 5 million kilowatts of reliable electricity to Sichuan and Chongqing during the peak hours once in operation.
"We have so far finished flattening 80 hectares of land at the designated sites. This year, we will further explore technological innovation in six aspects, including the integrated control of new energy bases and AI-aided power generation prediction," said Wang Liang, Ruoqiang site manager, Xinjiang Branch of China Three Gorges Corporation.
As a key focus of China's green energy transition during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, the construction of new-energy bases, particularly in sandy areas, rocky areas and deserts, made significant progress. The first batch of projects was accelerated to be completed by the end of 2024, while the second and third batches were accelerating construction.
As of the end of 2024, the first batch of bases had an installed capacity of 91.99 million kilowatts, accounting for approximately 95 percent of the total planned capacity for the first batch projects, with 90.79 million kilowatts already in operation.
"The planning and construction of new energy bases in the sandy areas, rocky areas and deserts has created a new path of coordinated development combining energy, ecology and economy. It is expected that by 2030, China's planned new energy installation capacity in these areas will exceed 300 million kilowatts," said Liu Qiang, the Director of the Electric Power Development Research Institute.
Construction of new-energy bases in western region picks up pace
